12 
ON HYDROPS UTERI. 
or two, labour pains will come on, the os uteri become dilated, and 
parturition take place ; but, sometimes, from the non-dilatation of 
the os uteri and relaxation of the sacro-ischiatic ligaments, or from 
a debilitated state of the uterus, its expulsion will not take place ; 
but in the course of time, as she regains her strength, it will become 
either wholly, or by piecemeal, expelled. Sometimes the soft parts 
will be gradually parted with, and the bones retained ; at others, 
if the foetus is small, a sort of sac will be formed around it in the 
uterus, and she will become again impregnated. We should always, 
whenever straining takes place after the waters have been re- 
moved. try if possible to dilate the os uteri and assist Nature in the 
expulsion of the foetus ; but no unnecessary, violent, or undue in- 
terference should be made, provided there is not a sufficient re- 
laxation of the soft parts, whatever the result may be. I think it 
would be quite as well, in these cases, to extract only a portion of 
the liquid at one time, especially if the term of pregnancy is nearly 
expired, and repeat it now and then, according to circumstances; 
for if the whole be removed too great a collapse takes place, and 
the constitution does not sufficiently rally, but, on the contrary, the 
animal sinks under it. Whenever a large quantity is taken away, 
the abdomen must be supported with bandages, so as to give pres- 
sure to the viscera and muscles. 
Sometimes, owing to the diminished capacity of the vagina and 
the undilatable state of the os uteri, we are unable to puncture the 
uterus. Where the former is the case, we may succeed in dilating 
the vagina by obtaining a boy with a small arm, who will be able 
to act so as to enable the veterinary surgeon to pass the catheter 
or canula. But in case we cannot puncture the uterus through the 
os uteri (and sometimes we cannot from the position of it being 
altered and bent out of the horizontal line), we must find out other 
places to do so through ; and these, I conceive, are three, viz. the 
rectum, linea alba, and the off side ; and the great consideration is, 
which is the preferable one. 
As to the former place, there is no doubt but what the uterus 
may be easily punctured with a trochar ; for where it is distended 
it is always found pressing with considerable force against the 
rectum, scarcely admitting of our arm up the latter. Now, although 
it may be readily entered here, yet, unless a very long trochar is 
used, the uterus would escape from the canula after some quantity 
of the fluid has escaped, and so defeat our aim. 
The next place is the linea alba. One would almost be led to 
believe, that there would be great danger in wounding some of the 
intestines at this place ; but it will be found, under great distention 
of the uterus, that the intestines are forced towards the spine and 
diaphragm, and that the uterus lies., entirely, interiorly find poste- 
